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Martin Richards

Research Interests Psycho-social aspects of the new human genetics

Research includes studies of the experience of genetic counselling and genetic testing for members of families carrying various inherited conditions, especially breast and ovarian and other inherited cancer syndromes and X linked learning disorders. Other work is concentrated on the understanding of inheritance in both families with inherited disorders and the general public. This work includes exploration of the concepts of inheritance and of kinship in both adults and children. Iam also working on aspects of the history of reproductive and genetic technology and eugenics. I am a member of the Human Genetics Commission, the Ethics Committee of the North Cumbria Community Genetics Project, and served on the Nuffield Council on Bioethics Working Party on the ethics of research on genes and behaviour.

Parental divorce and children

Over the past two decades I have carried out a series of studies on divorce and, in particular, the experience of children. These include both qualitative interview studies and the collaborative analysis of large data sets including the National Child Development Survey, the Strathclyde Twenty-07 Study and the MRC Healthy Aging Study. I have been involved in the development and assessment of divorce mediation and counselling for children experiencing parental divorce. I was an advisor for the Lord Chancellor's Department on the implementation of the Family Law Act 1996. I was part of a research group which is evaluating the Pilot Information Meetings for the Family Law Act. My particular responsibilities concerned the development and evaluation of Parenting Plans and information for children. I am a members of the research team (headed by Professor Jan Walker, University of Newcastle) which are evaluating The Family Advice and Information Network.

Current research projects

Non-disclosure of genetic risk information to family members following genetic counselling. With Lauren Kurzen Storrar and Angus Clarke (Manchester), Jane Halliday and Mary Anne Young (Melbourne, Australia) and other collaborators in genetic centres in the UK and Victoria, Australia. This study aims to establish the frequency of family non-disclosure, the reasons why consultants are reluctant to disclose and how genetic counsellors and clinical geneticists deal with non disclosure. Data will be collected prospectively over a year in each collaborating centre.

Psychological effects of molecular genetic diagnosis: the case of X-linked learning disability. With Helen Statham, Lucy Raymond and Nina Hallowell). A project is underway using high throughput mutation detection to identify abnormalities in previously unidentified genes in families where severe learning problems appear to be inherited as an X-linked trait. Our study is investigating the effects of this new kind of diagnostic information for family members and will involve interviews of parents and their affected and unaffected (young adult) children. The study is funded for 4 years by the Wellcome Trust.

Understanding inheritance: kinship connections and genetics. With Anji Wilson). This qualitative interview study explores concepts and knowledge of inheritance and kinship in a group of young adults and parents. The study is supported by a 3 year grant from the Wellcome Trust.

History of genetic and reproductive techniques and eugenics. With Laura Riley). Research on selective breeding at the Oneida Community (1869-1879) has recently been published and the focus has shifted to reproductive technologies and eugenics in the first half of the twentieth century.

source: http://www.hisf.no/njmt/authorpres.html

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